Direct-current restorer system for television receivers



July 10, 1962 LOUGHUN 3,043,909

DIRECT-CURRENT RESTORER SYSTEM FOR TELEVISION RECEIVERS Original Filed Aug. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Amplitude- 45 34 0 VIDEO- 25 I FREQUENCY 3| 2 52 AMPLIFIER July 10, 1962 DIRECT-CURRENT RESTORER SYSTEM FOR TELEVISION RECEIVERS Original Filed Aug. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Amplitude Amplitude B. D. LOUGHLIN Time-a Time-v VIDEO- FREQUENCY, AMPLIFIER 0 c LINE- LINE- 20 QY 'E 'gS SCANNING SCANNING GENERATOR o AMPLIFIER a "r; 1 SYNCHRONIZING- C A:

SIGNAL a 7| sEpARAToR o 1 10 FIELD- SCANNING GENERATOR 5' FIG] United States 3,043,909 Patented July 10, 1962 lice The present invention is directed to direct-current restorer systems for television receivers for restoring or recreating the direct-current component representative of the average brightness level of a television signal which is lost by the translation of that signal through an alterhating-current coupling in the receiver. This application is a divisional application of Serial No. 447,763, which matured into Patent No. 2,913,522, issued November 17, 1959.

In accordance with present-day television practice, a transmitted television signal comprises a carrier-Wave signal which is modulated during trace intervals by videofrequency and steady or direct-current components representative respectively of light variations in an image being transmitted and also its average background illumination. During the intervening retrace intervals, the carrier signal includes blanking or pedestal portions having a predetermined amplitude level corresponding to a given shade, which is usually near black. The carrier signal is modulated during a portion of this retrace interval by synchronizing-signal components which correspond to the initiations of successive lines and fields in the scanning of an image.

At the receiver, an electron beam of a cathode-ray image-reproducing device or tube is so deflected as to scan a target or screen in a series of fields of parallel lines. The synchronizing-signal components of the re ceived composite television signal are separated from the other modulation-signal components and are utilized to control the scanning apparatus of the receiver so as to synchronize its operation with that of similar apparatus employed at the transmitter in developing the signal. The intensity of the electron beam is controlled by the videofrequency modulation components, thereby to reconstruct the image.

The video-frequency modulation components which are derived by the modulation-signal detector of a television receiver are usually translated by a video-frequency amplifier of one or more stages to the brilliancy-control input circuit of the cathode-ray image-reproducing tube. Direct-current amplifiers are rather expensive and present stability problems. Accordingly, they are not ordinarily employed throughout the video-frequency amplifier channel of a television receiver.' Consequently, it is customary to employ in that channel one or more stages of alternating-current amplification together with a directcurrent restorer system for recreating the direct-current component lost because of the alternating-current coupling or couplings.

The composite television signal translated by a television receiver is subject to large amplitude random noise pulses which upset the operation of those employing an efiicient direct-current restorer system, which is a peak detector device, causing the latter to stabilize on the tips of the noise pulses rather than on the tips of the lower amplitude synchronizing pulses. As a result, when noise is present during the retrace intervals, an image produced by such a monochrome television receiver has poor contrast and the image is often referred to as being milky. current restorer systems of many television receivers have To reduce this undesirable effect, the direct been designed in a manner to make the systems less efiicient as peak detectors. Such direct-current restorer systems then afford a'somewhat better performance with respect to noise but at the expense of poorer direct-current restoration. Some manufacturers have considered the over-all performance of the last-mentioned type of direccurrent restorer systems as being not sufficiently satisfactory as to warrant the added cost of the components of the restorer. Consequently, direct-current restorer systerns are frequently omitted from many monochrome television receivers.

In tricolor television receivers, such as those employing three electron guns in the image-reproducing apparatus thereof, accurate direct-current restoration is desirable to maintain good color balance in the reproduced image.

Prior such receivers ordinarily employ a peak detector in each of the three color channels for direct-current restoration and are susceptible to noise for reasons mentioned above. This restoration problem is more critical in a color-television receiver than in a monochrome receiver and, unless accurate restoration is effected in each of the three color channels thereof, undesirable errors in both reproduced chromaticity and brightness will result.

Another important function which is preferably performed in the signal-translating channel of a television receiver is the maintenance of the intensity of the output signal thereof within a relatively narrow range for a wide range of received signal intensities. This function is ordinarily referred to as automatic-gain-control. The amplitude level of the peaks of the synchronizing-signal pulses of a television carrier wave is a measure of the carrier-wave intensity independent of the light-modulation components. Accordingly, in most television receivers, an automatic-gain-control is derived in a control system which is responsive to the tips of the synchronizing-signal pulses of the applied television signal. As previously mentioned, random noise pulses often extend above the tips of the synchronizing pulses and these large amplitude noise pulses will cause theautom-atic-gain-control system to derive an erroneous control potential which may impair the quality of the image reproduced by the television receiver.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved system for automatically controlling one or more operating characteristics of a television receiver.

It is another object of the invention to provide for use in a monochromeor in a color-television receiver a new and improved direct-current restorer system which avoids one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages and limitations of prior restorer systems.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for use in a television receiver a new and improved direct-current restorer system which is substantially immune to random noise pulses occurring during the blanking intervals of the applied composite television signal.

-It is a still further object of the invention to provide for use in a television receiver a new and improved automatic-control system for providing both direct-current restoration and an automatic-gain-control potential.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for use in a television receiver a new. and improved direct-current restorer system which is simple in construction, relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, and provides a direct-current component which is accurately representative of the average brightness level of a composite television signal.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following descriptigntaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

of one or more stages.

' scanning coil of the device.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram, partly schematic, of a complete monochrome-television receiver including an automatic-control or direct-current restorer system in accordance with a particular form of the present invention;

FIGS. 2a-2c, inclusive, are graphs utilized in explaining the operation of the control system utilized in the FIG. 1 receiver;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of another form of a direct-current restorer system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graph utilized in explaining of the FIG. 3 system;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a further form of a direct-current restorer system in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 61: and 6b are graphs employed in explaining the operation of the FIG. 5 control system, and

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram, partly schematic, of an additional form of automatic-control system embodying the present invention.

General Description of FIG. 1 Receiver I Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the television receiver there represented comprises a receiver of the superheterodyne type including an antenna 10 coupled to a radio-frequency amplifier 11 There are coupled to the latter unit in cascade, in the order named, an oscillator-modulator 12, an intermediate-frequency amplifier 13 of one the operation or more stages, an automatic-control system 14 having input terminals 25, 25 and including a detector and automatic-gain-control system 15, a direct-current video-frequency amplifierv 16, and an alternating-current videofrqeuency amplifier 17 which operates with a zero bias in its input circuit, and a cathode-ray image-reproducing device 18 of conventional construction connected to the output terminals 30, 30 of unit 14 and provided with the usual -line-frequency and field-frequency scanning coils for deflecting the cathode-ray beam in two directions normal to each other. Connected to the output terminals of the intermediate-frequency amplifier 13 is a conventional sound-signal detector and amplifier 19 which comprises the usual frequency detector, amplifier, and soundreproducing device.

The video-frequency output circuit of the detector is coupled through a pair of terminals 26, 26 and a synchronizingesignal separator 20 to the input circuits of a line-scanning generator 21 and a field-scanning generator 22. The output circuit of the generator 21 is coupled in a conventional manner to the line-scanning coil of the image-reproducing device 18 through a line-scanning amplifier 23 while the field-scanning generator 22, which may include suitable amplifiers, is'connected to the fieldline-scanning amplifier 23 is connected to input terminals'27, 27 of the control system 14 for supplying to the. video-frequency amplifier 16 during the retrace .intervals periodiccontrol pulses for controlling the operation thereof in a manner which will be explained in detail subsequently. Output terminals 28, 28 of the gain-control circuit .of the detector of unit 15 are connected to the input circuits of one or more of the stages of units 11,

12, and 13 by a control circuit conductor 29 to supply an automatic-gain-control or AGC effect to those stages. The units 1023, inclusive, with the exception of the An output circuit of the control system 14-,por-ticns of which are constructed in accordance with the present inventionand will be described hereinafter, may be of conventional construction and operation so. that a detailed description and explanation of the operation thereof are unnecessary herein.

General Operation 10] 1 Receiver l Considering briefly, however, the general operation of amplified in the radio-frequency amplifier 11 and are supplied to the oscillator-modulator 12 wherein they are converted into intermediate-frequency signals. The latter, in turn, are selectively amplified in the intermediatefrequency amplifier 13 and are delivered to the detector 15. The modulation components of the signal are derived by the detector 15 and are applied to the direct-current video-frequency amplifier 16 wherein those components and the original unidirectional component are amplified. These components are then supplied to the alternating-current video-frequency amplifier 17 for further amplification and direct-current restoration, whereupon they are applied to the input circuit of the image-reproducing device 18.

A control voltage, which is derived by an automatic gain-control supply in the unit 15, is applied by the control circuit conductor 29 as an automatic-amplificationcontrol bias to the gain-control circuits of units 11, 12, and 13 to maintain the signal input to the detector within a relatively narrow range for a wide range of received signal intensities. The unit 20 selects the synchronizing signals from the other modulation components of the composite video-frequency signal applied thereto by the output terminals 26, 26 of the detector 15. The line-synchronizing and the field-synchronizing signals are also separated from each other in unit-2d and are then supplied to individual ones of the generators 2 1 and 22 to synchronize the operation thereof. An electron beam is produced by the cathode-ray image-reproducing device 18 and the intensity of this beam is controlled in accordance with the videofrequency signal impressed on the brilliancy-control electrode thereof through the output terminals 356, 30 of the video-frequency amplifier -17 and the control voltage applied to the cathode of device 18. Saw-tooth current Waves are generated in the line-frequency and field-frequency generators 21 and 22, respectively. The output signal of generator 21 is supplied to the line-scanning coil of unit :18 through the amplifier 23 while the output signal of generator 22 is supplied directly to the field-scanning coil of device 18 to produce the usual scanning fields, thereby to deflect the cathode-ray beam of device 18 in two directions normal to each other to trace a rectilinear scanning pattern on the screen of the tube and thereby reconstruct the translated picture.

The audio-frequency modulation components of the received signal are derived in a conventional manner by the sound-signal detector and amplifier 19 and are applied to the loudspeaker thereof and converted to sound.

Description of Direct-Current Restorer System 14 of FIG. 1

Referring now more particularly to the direct-current restorer system 14 of FIG. 1, the system there represented comprises a first signal-translating circuit responsive to a composite television signal including an average brightness component and blanking and synchronizing portions which are undesirably subject to random noise pulses. This circuit comprises the control electrode-cathode input circuit of the direct-current video-frequency amplifier 16 and may also be considered to include the preceding stages wherein the direct-current component of the composite signal exists, for example, the radiofrequency amplifier 11, the oscillator-modulator 12, the intermediatefrequency amplifier 13, the modulation-signal detector 15, and the video-frequency amplifier16. The detector 15 includes a conventional modulation-signal detector unit comprising a diode 31 which is transformer coupled to the input terminals 25, 25, the cathode of the diode being connected to ground through one :Winding of transformer 45 and the anode being coupled to ground through a radio-frequency by-pass condenser 32. The anode of the comprise a conventional AGC rectifier system which, for simplicity, is represented as a diode rectifier 137 induc tively coupled in a conventional manner between the input terminals 25, and the output terminals 28, 28 for supplying gain-control potential to units 11-13, inclusive. The anode of tube 33 of the video-frequency amplifier 16 is connected through'an anode load resistor 38 to a source of potential indicated as |B which supplies a potential of a predetermined value. The cathode of the tube 33 is connected to a voltage divider 46 which serves as a brightness control and has one terminal connected to a source '|B and the other terminal thereof connected to ground.

The direct-current restorer system 14 also includes a supply circuit, coupled to the aforesaid first circuit or input circuit of the video-frequency amplifier .16, for introducing periodic pulses of negative polarity therein during the intervals of the blanking and synchronizing portions of the detected composite television signal to develop in the output circuit of tube 33, with the composite signal also appearing thereat, a resultant signal. having the aforesaid average brightness component and having portions extending during those intervals to a predetermined reference level, namely to the level of the source B connected to the anode of tube 33, which level is unaflFected by the random noise pulses. This supply circuit comprises the terminals 27, 27 and connections to the control electrode of tube 33 and may also be considered to include the output circuit of the line-scanning amplifier '23 and a polarity-reversing device therein, such as a transformer, for developing relatively large amplitude negative polarity pulses during the retrace intervals of the linescanning system. This supply circuit preferably includes a wave-shaping system comprising a diode limiter 37 having its cathode grounded and its anode connected to the junction of resistors 138 and 39 which are serially connected between the ungrounded one of the terminals 27, 2-7 and the control electrode of tube 33. The anode of the diode 37 is connected to a source of potential +8 through a load resistor 40.

The direct-current restorer system 14 further includes a second circuitresponsive to the resultant signal developed in the anode circuit of tube 33 as a result of the signal appliedto the control electrode of tube 33 by way of the diode '31 of the detector '15 and the input terminals 27, 27. The aforesaid second circuit includes a coupling in the form of a condenser 41 that. is ineifective to translate the average brightness component of the signal appearing on the control electrode of tube 33 and further includes stabilizing means responsive to the resultant signal for stabilizing it at the reference level comprising that of the source +B connected to the anode of tube 33, Whereby the average brightnes component is restored in the sta bilized signal and is substantially unaffected by the random noise pulses. This second circuit comprises the alternating-current video-frequency amplifier 17 with its coupling condenser 41 and its electron tube 42 that is arranged to operate at zero bias. To this end, the cathode of the tube 42 is connected to ground and a grid-leak resistor 43 interconnects the control electrode and the cathode of that tube. The anode of tube 42 is connected through a load resistor 44 to a source of potential +3 and is also connected through the ungrounded one of the output terminals 34), to the brilliancy-control electrode of the image-reproducing device '18.

Operation of Direct-Current Restorer System 14 of FIG. 1

In considering the operation of the system 14 of FIG. 1, it will be understood that, as is customary in present-day television receivers, the gain-control supply of the detector 15 is efiective to keep the signal input to diode 31 within a relatively narrow range. for a wide range of received signal intensities. The composite video-frequency signal derived by the tube 31 of detector 15 is applied to the voltage divider with the synchronizing pulses extending 6 in a negative direction as represented bythe Wave form above the voltage divider. During the blanking and synchronizing portions of the composite signal and particularly during the latter part of the synchronizing pulses and during the so-called back-porch region of the pedestals, the'line-scanning amplifier 23 develops and applies to the input terminals 27, '27 large amplitude negative polarity pulses. These pulses are applied through the resistor 138 to the diode 37 and the latter is etfective to limit the lower amplitude portions of these pulses so that a generally rectangular pulse is applied through'the resistor 39 to the control electrode of tube 33. These pulses are combined with the signal applied to the voltage divider 35 by the detector 15 to produce a resultant signal, the wave form of a portion of which is represented above the junction of the resistor '39 and the control electrode of tube 33.

Each control pulse from 'terminals'27, 27 is effectively superimposed on the synchronizing and pedestal portions of the composite modulation signal derived by the'diode 3 1. The large amplitude negative polarity pulse portions of the resultant signal applied to the control electrode of the drawings respresents more clearly the wave form of a a portion of the. signal appearing at the anode of tube 33. It will be seen from FIG. 2a that the positive-going tips of the resultant signal extend'to the level {B which is unaffected by random noise pulses because the tube 33 is cut off at this time. The other portions of the signal extend below this level with the tips of the synchronizing pulses forming a step at a level denoted sync level. The white region of the image-information portion of the resultant signal extends toward the Zero carrier level as represented.

When an output signal of a direct-current amplifier such as the amplifier 16 is translated through an alternating-current coupling such as the condenser 41, information representative of the average brightness level is lost and the translated picture information represents only the fluctuations in the light values with reference to that average brightness level. The average brightness axis corresponds to the alternating-current axis imparted to the translated signal by the condenser 41. This axis is represented by the axis O--O in FIG. 2b of the drawings which would 1 correspond to a zero voltage level. if the tube 42 were not in circuit. Since the tube 42 of the alternating-current amplifier 17 is operated at zero bias, the positive-going pulse portions of the Wave cause control electrode-cathode current to flow in that tube and develop more negative bias on the electrode of condenser 41 which is connected to the controlelectro'de,thereby stabilizing the tips of the large amplitude pulse portions at a level corresponding to approximately zero bias as represented in FIG. 20 thus restoring or recreatinginformation representative of the average brightness level of the translated signal. The amplifier 17 reverses the polarity of the applied signal and applies to the terminals 30, 30 an output signal having its pulse portions extending in a negative direction as represented near those terminals in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The positive potential applied to the cathode of the image-reproducing device 18 is of such magnitude that the pedestals 'or blanking portions of the signal applied to the control electrode occurjat the cutoff point of the cathode-ray tube of device 18. Thus, the intensity of the cathode-ray beam is varied between the white level and the black level of the signal applied to its control electrode by the output terminals 30, 30 and faithfully reproduces a monochrome image of the received tele-. vision signal. I

In a television receiver having a conventional directcurrent restorer, large amplitude random noise pulses are superimposed on the tips of the synchronizing-signal pulses translated by the receiver and cause the direct-current restorer thereof to stabilize on the tips of those noise pulses. Accordingly, an improper direct-current restoration would take place giving rise to an improper average brightness of the reproduced image.

by. the direct-current restorer comprising the control electrode-cathode circuit of the video-frequency. amplifier 17f always takes place at a predetermined reference level,

namely the level +B, which is unaffected by random noise pulses and accurate direct-current restoration action takes place unimpaired by noise, thereby resulting in the production'of an image wherein the average brightness level is correctly represented.

Description of FIG. 3 Restorer System and Explanation of Operation Thereo Referring now to FIG. 3v of'the drawings, there is represented a direct-current restorer system 14 which is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, corresponding elements are designated'by the same reference numerals. FIG. 3 represents a restorer system wherein the periodic pulses which are introduced into the main signal-translating channel of the receiver during the interf valsof. the blanking and synchronizing portions of the.

composite television signal extend into the infrawhite region of the composite signal rather than .into the infrablack. region as with the FIG. 1 system. The system 14 of FIG. 3 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the diode 31 of the :detector'15is so. poled that the synchronizing pulses of the output signal thereof extend in a positivedirection. Large amplitude ,negative polarity pulses,

which may be derived from the line-scanning amplifier 23 as in FIG. 1, are appliedto the'input terminals 27, 27.

The-ungrounded one of these terminals is connected by a synchronizing pulses extending in a positive direction andthe-periodic negative-going pulses supplied by terminals 27', 27 are applied to the control electrode of the tube 33 of'the direct-current amplifier 16. There. isproducedat the anode of tube 3 3 a resultant signal having "the" Wave form as represented near the anode and also as shown to an enlargedseale in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Since the tube 33 is driven to anode-current cutoii by the negativegoing pulses applied to its control electrode from the terminals 27,27, these pulses after being reversed in polarity have tips extending'to the +13 level as shown in FIG. 4.

The zero carrier levels appear as indicated and the white level is at asomewhat lower level in accordance with standardpractice. The pedestals and the tips of the synchroni'zing signals appear at less positive levels of the resultant signal'of FIG. 4. It will be observed that the periodic pulses extend to the infrawhite region rather than into theinfrablack region as in the FIG. 1 embodiment of the invention. The alternating-current amplifier 17 operates at zero bias'and stabilizes on the tips of the periodic pulses thus' restoring the average brightness component in the stabilized signal in a manner which is unaffected by random noise pulses as previously explained. Amplifier 17 reverses the polarity of its applied signal and applies the resultant signal .With its synchronizing pulses extending in a positive direction and the periodic pulses extendin in a negative direction as represented near the terminals 30,

30. 'Ihe potential applied to: the control electrode of the image-reproducingdevice 18 is adjusted so that the blanking portions of the stabilized resultant signal applied to In the restorer system :14 of the present invention, however, stabilization the cathode of the device occur at the cutoff level thereof.

To avoid producing white streaks on the faceof the image-reproducing device during, the intervals of the periodic pulses which extend into the infrawhite region as mentioned above, the large amplitude negative polarity periodic pulses are applied to the screen electrode of device 18 in order to prevent the electron beam from Descripitonof FIG. 5 Restorer System and Explanation of Operation Thereof I In FIG. 5 of the drawings, there is representeda directcurrent restorer system which is quite similar to that of FIG. 3. Accordingly, corresponding elements are desig-. nated by the same reference numerals. The system of FIG. 5 also inserts periodic pulses which extend into-the.

infrawhite region of the composite video-frequency signal translated through the main channel of the receiver for the purpose of providing a direct-current restoration action which is substantially independent of random noise pulses. The supply circuit including the terminals 27, 27

applies these periodic pulses toflthe modulation-signal detector 15 for periodically disabling the receiver. To this end, the terminals 27, '27 are connected through the resistor 138 associated with the diode limiter 37 which is connected. through a winding of-the transformer r to the .detectordiode 31. A diode detector 51 of conventional construction is coupled to the input terminals 25, 25 and fhas its output circuit coupled to terminals. 26, 26 for deriving synchronizing pulses from the intermediate-frequency. signal applied to terminals 25, 25.

The: detector 31 for deriving the video-frequency components is so poled as to develop across the contrastcontrol voltage divider 35 a signal wherein the synchronizing pulses extend in a positive direction and the periodic pulses extend in a negative direction into the infrawhite region. A signal appearing across the divider 35 is applied to the control electrode of the image-reproducing device 18 through a coupling condenser 52, an. alternating-current video-frequency amplifier 53, the terminals 3t 30, and a coupling condenser 54. A resistor 55' is connected between the control electrode of device 18 and ground and the cathode of the latter is connected to ground through an adjustable resistor 56 which serves as a brightness control having one terminal grounded and the otherterminal connected through a condenser 57' to the screen electrode of the device 18. The periodic pulses applied to the anode of the diode 31 from the terminals 27, 27 are-efiective to render it nonconductive during the blanking and synchronizing portions of the intermediatefrequency Wave signal applied to the input terminals 25, 25. After detection, the signal appearing across the voltage divider 35 has the wave form represented in FIG. 6a of the drawings. This signal, after translation through condenser 52, video-frequency amplifier 53, and condenser 54, loses its average brightness component. However, the brilliancy-control input circuit of the imagereproducing device 1 3 is responsive .to the alternating current signal applied thereto by the condenser 54 with the polarity indicated as inFIG. 6b and by grid-current rectification stabilizes that signal at a predetermined reference level XX in theinfrawhite region, which level is unaffected by random noise pulses and corresponds to the positive tips of the periodic'pulses. Simultaneously with the application of these periodic pulses to the control are applied to the screen electrode of device 18'for ef: fectively disabling that device during the intervals of the periodic pulses. This disabling operation prevents those pulse portions, which extend into the infrawhite region and are applied to the control electrode of device 18, from developing white streaks on the face 'of the cathoderay tube thereof. The bias on the cathode of the device 18 during the trace portions of'the applied signal is established by adjustment of voltage divider 56 which controls the pulse voltage applied to the cathode so that the black level of the signal applied to the control electrode occurs at the cutofi point of the cathode-ray tube.

Description of Automatic-ControlSystem of FIG. 7

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there is represented an automatic-control system which is generally similar to that of FIG. 5. Again, corresponding elements and units are designated by the same reference numerals. The control system of FIG. 7 not only is effective to accomplish direct-current restoration but also is capable of developing an automatic-gain-control potential which is relatively unaffected by large amplitude random noise pulses. Furthermore, the system of FIG. 7 is capable of providing an automatic-frequency-control for the line-scanning system of the television receiver.

terminals 60, 60 a resultant signal which has the average brightness component and has portions extending during the intervals of the blanking and synchronizing portions of the composite signal to a predetermined reference level which is unaffectedby random noise pulses, namely that corresponding to zero input signal. The anode of the limiter 37 is coupled through a resistor 39 to the junction of the coil 34 and the fixed resistor '35 in the output circuit of detector31 for supplying negative polarity pulses to that junction. The output circuit of the intermediatefrequency amplifier 13 is coupled to the control electrode of the image-reproducing device 18' through the transformer 45, detector 15, condenser 52, alternating-current video-frequency amplifier 53, and condenser 54. The diode 31 of the detector 15 is so poled as to translate the composite video-frequency signal with its synchronizing pulses extending in a negative direction. Instead of performing the direct-current restoration operation in the control electrode-cathode circuit of the image-reproducing device *18 as in the FIG. Sembodiments, this operation is performed by a diode 60 having its anode coupled to the control electrode of device 18 and its cathode connected to ground. The diode 60 also includes the usual load resistor 61 connected across the diode. An

brightness control 56 for the purpose of applying positive polarity gating pulses to the-cathode during the intervals of the blankingand synchronizing portions of the stabilized signal and also for the purpose of establishing the cutoif level of device 18 with reference to the pedestals of the stabilized signal applied to its control electrode. The diode 31 of the detector is so poled and the videofrequency amplifier 53 has a suitable number of stages such that the polarity of the signal translated by the videofrequency translating channel of the receiver is as indicated at the various points in that channel.

The output terminals of the synchronizing-signal sep arator 20 are coupled to an averaging detector 70 which; in turn, has its output circuit coupled to the line-scanning amplifier 23 through a line-scanning generator 71 having a voltage-responsive input circuit which controls the frequency thereof.

Operation of Automatic-Control System of FIG. 7

The negative polarity pulses applied by the line-scanning amplifier 23 through terminals 27, 27 to the control elecnode of the intermediate-frequency amplifier 13 are effective to disable that amplifier during intervals of the blanking and synchronizing portions of the intermediatefrequency wave signal applied to terminals 66, 60. The wave-signal output of amplifier 13 includes the average brightness component and the output signal, derived therefrom by the modulation-signal detector 31, has the wave form represented above the resistor 35, assuming that the negative polarity pulse supplied by terminals 27, 27 was not applied to the junction of the coil 34 and the resistor 35. It will be observed that the periodic positive pulse extends into the infrawhite region of the translated signal. The broken horizontal line designated reference white is somewhat below the tips of the translated peri odic pulses. Negative polarity pulses are also applied to the junction of the coil 34 and the resistor 35 through the resistor 39 connected to the anode of the limiter 37. These pulses are coincident with the periodic pulses but are of lesser amplitude and reduce the effective amplitude of the periodic pulses to the level designated by the reference white level. Consequently, the signal applied through the video-frequency amplifier 53 to the control electrode of the image-reproducing device 18 has the wave form represented above the diode 60. The latter recreates the average brightness level in the well-known to the anode of the diode and its anode coupled to .ground througha time-constant network having a time constant which is long with respect to the periodicity of the synchronizing pulses applied to the cathode of that diode. A conventional so-called delay diode 66 and circuit elements therefor are coupled in parallel with the time-constant network 65 for providing at the output terminal indicated by the arrow a delayed automatic gain-control potential. This delay bias circuit includes an adjustable resistor 90 in the load circuit of the diode 66 for adjusting the bias on that diode and for providing contrast control. For the purpose of gating the diode 64 into conduction during retrace intervals of the line-scanning amplifier 23, output terminals of the latter are coupled through a transformer 63 and a condenser 68 to the anode of the diode. The cathode of the image-reproducing device 18 is coupled to ground through the output Winding of the transformer 63 through a conventional supplied to the cathode of device 18- during the blanking intervals cuts off the cathode-ray beam thereof during those intervals and prevents white streaks from'being formed on the screen of the tube thereof.

The positive polarity pulses just mentioned are also applied to the anode .of the diode 64 and the peaks thereof render that tube conductive during the intervals of the periodic pulses in which the latter extend to the reference white level. An automatic-gain-control potential which is a measure of the carrier-wave intensity independent of video modulation components is developed across the network 65 and, after the delay afiorded by the delay diode 66 and associated components, is applied by the control circuit conductor denoted AGC to suitable stages of the receiver for use in a well-known manner.

- Since the diode 64 is gated on only during the retrace intervals of .the television receiver, it is relatively insensitive to large amplitude random noise pulses occurring during the image portions of the television signal translated to the image-reproducing device 18. An auto matic-gain-control system of the type described affords another advantage.- It'will be noted that it is connected to a high-gain point in the video-frequency signal-transspaaeoa lating channel of the receiver at a point subsequent to the final alternating-current coupling comprising the com enser 54'. Consequently, the gain-control system is effective to take advantage of the gain afforded by all the video-frequency stages, none of which need be a directcurrent amplifier, and develops a useful gain-control potential without the need ofadditional amplifiers in the gain-control system itself. i i

The line-synchronizing pulses which are applied to the averaging detector 70 have an average width which is determined by the phase of the output-signal of the linescanning system including units 71 and 23. The output voltage of the averaging'detector is proportional to this average width and the voltage-responsiveinput circuit of the line-scanning generator 71 responds to this voltage in a'manner to adjust the frequency thereof in the proper: direction to maintain a substantially correct line-scanning frequency. Such an automatic-frequency-controlsystem.

is relatively insensitive to noise pulses" occurring between the horizontal synchronizing pulses.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that an i automatic-control system in accordance with the FIG. 7

embodiment of the invention is effective to'provide both' noise-free direct-current restoration and anautomaticgain-control,potential. It will also be apparent that a direct-current restorer system in accordance with the various embodiments of theinvention is substantially immune to random noise-pulses; occurring during the blanking intervals ofan applied composite television signal.

While there have been described what are" at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those. skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made I therein Without departing from the invention; and it is,

therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention; V i

What is claimed is: a Y

1. A direct-current restorer system for a television receiver comprising: a first circuit responsive to a composite television signal including an average brightness component and blanking and synchronizing portions extending in one direction and which are undesirably subject to random noise pulses; supply circuit means coupled to said first circuit for introducing periodic pulses therein during the intervals of said portions and extending in the opposite direction to develop in said first circuit with said composit'e signal a resultant signal having: said average brightness component and having portions extending during'said intervals to a predetermined reference level in the infrawhite region unaffected by said noise pulses; and a second circuit responsive to said resultant signal but including a coupling ineffective to translate said average brightness component and including a cathode-ray image-reproducing device having a screen-electrode circuitand having a brilliancy-control input circuit responsive to said resultant signal for stabilizing the same therein at said reference level, 'whereby vsaid average brightness component-is restored in said stabilized signal and is substantially unaffected by said noise pulses; said supply circuit being coupled to said screen electrode circuit for efiectively disabling said image-reproducing device' duringsaid intervals. Y

' 2.. A direct-current'restorer system for a television re- J ceiver comprising: a first circuit including a directscurrent video frequency amplifier having an input circuit and having anoutput circuit coupled to a source supplying apotential having a predetermined positive value and responsive to a composite television signal including an average brightness component and blanking and synchronizing portions extendingin one direction and which areundesirably subject to random noise pulses; supply circuit means coupled tosaid, input circuit for introducing periodic pulses therein during the intervals of said portions and extending in said direction to develop in 7 said output circuit with said composite signal .a resultant signal having said average brightness component and having reference-level portions extending during said intervals to said predetermined positive value and unaffected by saidnoise pulses; and a second circuit responsive to said resultant signal but including acoupling inefiective totranslate said average brightness component and including stabilizing means responsive to said resultantsignal for stabilizing the same at said reference level, whereby said average brightness component is restored in'said stabilized signal and i substantially unaffected by said noise pulses. v V

3. A direct-current restorer system for a television receiver comprising: a first circuit including a direct-current video-frequency amplifier having a control electrode- 7 cathode input circuit and having ananode-cathode output circuit comprising a source for supplying a potential having a predetermined positive value and responsive to a composite television signal. including an average brightness component and blanking and synchronizing portions extending" in one direction and which are undesirably subject to random" noise pulses; supply circuit means coupled to said input circuitfor' introducing periodic negative polarity pulses therein during the intervals of said portions and extending in said direction to drive said amplifierto anode-current cutoff and develop in said output circuit-'with'said composite signal aresultant signal having said average brightness component and having reference-level portions extending during said intervals to said predetermined positivevalue and unaffected by said noise pulses; and a second circuit'responsive to said resultant signal but including a coupling ineffective to translate said average brightness component and including stabilizing means responsive to said resultant signal for stabilizing the same at said r'eferencelevel, whereby said average brightness. component is restored in said stabilized-signal and is substantially unaffected by said noise pulses.

4. A direct-current restorer system for a television re:

ceiver comprisingz. a first circuit responsive to a composite Blew S1011 signal including an average brightness component and including blanking and synchronizing portions extending in one direction and which are undesirablysubject to random noise pulses; supply circuit means coupled to said first circuit for introducing periodic pulses therein during the intervals of said portions and extending in said direction to develop in said 'first circuit tially unatfected by-said noise pulses.

5. A direct-current restorer system for a television receiver comprising: means forsupplyinga television signal Without its average brightness component and for supplying a pulse eifcctively extending at least to reference white level of said television signal; an image-reproducing device, the'input thereof including beam-producing and beam-intensity-control electrodes, said device being responsive to said television signal to reproduce an' image therefrom and to-said pulse to cause current to flow through said control electrode; and circuit means connected across said electrodes for developing a directcurrent potential from said'current flow, whereby a noise; immune direct-current level is developed in said circuit means to-provide direct-current restoration at the input of said device.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14 Wend-t May 5, 1953 Rhodes May 14, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 30, 1953 

